After our game on Thursday, we all went out for icecream at Friendly's. My new (awesome) friend, Marissa and I decided that we would carpool to this relief society retreat that was going on Friday night. So yesterday, I drove over to Marissa's house so we could carpool to the activity. We picked up Michelle and went on our way. The retreat was instructional and fun-it was really what I needed yesterday. At the activity we took these mini-classes on Preparing for the Temple, Seeking out the Lord, and Scripture Study. Each class really put some things in my life into perspective.
On the way home from the activity (around 11:30pm) Marissa informed me that Elder Bednar was going to be in DC for a fireside Saturday morning. I told her that was awesome, but that I had a lot of things I needed to get done this weekend-so I wouldn't be able to go. As soon as I said it, I felt regret. Immediately I start yelling at myself in my head, "UM! HELLO! An Apostle of the Lord is going to be an hour and a half away and you are 'too busy' to go hear him speak?! I don't think so!" So I told Marissa I was going, set my alarm clock, and SHOT out of bed at 5am this morning to drive to the stake center and hear an Apostle speak to me...in person.
This is huge for me people. I have NEVER seen an Apostle in real life, never seen them speak from a pulpit in front of me. In fact the first time I saw an area 70 was only a year ago.
I am so grateful that I listened to my personal revelation and that I went. I have never felt the spirit so strong in my life-it witnessed to me the power of one who holds the priesthood keys and the truthfulness of this gospel ten-times over. Elder Bednar was funny, he was real, and he was a true conduit of our Father in Heaven's love for us.
The fireside was set up like a question and answer session-and I had a question, but I was terrified to ask it because I didn't think I could speak in front of an Apostle, let alone TO an Apostle-so I wrote my question down; just plopped it into my notebook and then actually raised my hand. No! Elder Bednar did not call on me-but the very next answer he gave answered my personal question specifically and personally. The spirit testified to me and the revelations flowed through my mind.
I don't know a lot. And I make so many mistakes. But I will tell you that I KNOW this church is true. I witness that Elder Bednar is an Apostle of the Lord and that he serves with the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency to instruct and lead us back to our Heavenly Father and our Savior. I witness to you that personal revelation is real and that all of us can obtain it-and that it is so very personal. I witness that Heavenly Father loves us. That He knows us personally and that the plan He has for each of us is hand crafted to make us the best we can possibly be, so that we may return to him someday. I am so grateful for my testimony-I am grateful for the blessings that come with my testimony. I pray that everyone can find a testimony for themselves and that all can return to our Father in Heaven someday.
2 comments:
I think I just let out an emphatic amen alone in my apartment. Glad we're friends, glad we drove together to the retreat, and so very glad you got to hear an Apostle speak. It was wonderful and filling in every way :)
Amber, you're so awesome! I admire all your wonderful posts about the church. You're such a great person! LOVE YA!
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